Chinese swimmer Sun Yang, a three-time Olympic champion, has sparked heated debate on Weibo following his performance at the National Summer Swimming Championships in Hefei. The 32-year-old secured victory in the men’s 400 meters freestyle final with a time of 3 minutes and 49.58 seconds, marking his first competitive race since completing a four-year doping ban. However, his time was nearly 10 seconds slower than his Olympic record of 3:40.14 set at the 2012 London Games, and significantly behind the 3:41.78 clocked by Germany’s Lukas Martens at the recent Paris Olympics.
Sun’s performance drew mixed reactions online, with a local media outlet stating that he “lacks competitiveness internationally,” a sentiment that quickly went viral with over 52 million views on a related hashtag. However, many fans rallied in support of the swimmer, defending his efforts after years away from competition.
“If we have the time to analyze these things [his time], why don’t we think about how to deal with foreign media and how to protect our athletes instead of talking this nonsense?” one user commented. Another pointed out the challenges Sun faced, remarking, “He is not allowed to participate in competitions, not allowed to participate in [national team] training, how can he achieve results so quickly? The golden period of athletes has been missed. Don’t be too harsh on him.”
Sun’s four-year ban, which ended in May, stemmed from an incident in 2018 where he refused to cooperate with an out-of-competition anti-doping test, leading to allegations that he and his entourage smashed blood vials containing his samples. Although Sun denied the accusations, the ban left a significant mark on his career.
During his suspension, Sun trained alone, often swimming up to 16,000 meters a day in the pool at his apartment complex. His relentless dedication raised concerns among his parents for his mental health. Sun’s personal life also saw significant changes during this time, as he married former rhythmic gymnast Zhang Doudou and became a father.
In an emotional interview after his victory in the 400m heats, Sun expressed the toll of the past four years, yet he remained hopeful about the future. “Four years is long and bitter,” Sun said. “But I never thought of retirement while serving the ban. I’m not as obsessed with rankings and gold medals as I used to be. I care more about the meaning of perseverance and endeavor.”
Despite the controversies that have clouded his career, Sun Yang is still considered one of China’s greatest swimmers, holding world championship or Olympic gold in freestyle events ranging from 200m to 1500m. Looking ahead, Sun has not ruled out the possibility of competing in the 2028 Olympics, vowing to “go all out” if given the opportunity.
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